Australian elections

Press, 14 December 1977, Page 26

Australian elections

Sir, — According to your editorial article Mr Fraser’s win is “handsome”: I call it contrived and much more apparent than real. Here is a man, and a party, so powerhungry, that they have forced Australians to the polls three times since May, 1974; a coalition w'hich has won less than half the votes cast (47 per cent provisionally) but which collects in the process 70 per cent of the seats (86). The Labour Party polled just 6 per cent fewer votes but collects only 36 seats. (30 per cent). Mr Fraser’s main strength lies in the rural areas, and here the seats are numerically only about half the size of the city seats where Labour’s strength lies. Could there be clearer evidence of gerrymandering? Australians should save themselves the time and expense of frequent, futile elections. Under the present political system they are assured of one-party rule in perpetuity, — Yours, etc., < M. T. MOORE. December 13, 1977.